Originally, 133 members of the public signed up to speak on the issue, with around 80 addressing the board for three minutes each over the course of two nights.

Daylon Payne used her time to deliver an online petition with 16,500 signatures against keeping the cetaceans in tanks.

"This is the voice of the public. The public is where the aquarium sits, it is on public ground. The public should be having the right to say what they do want and what they don't."

One of those who spoke in favour of keeping the program was UBC researcher Andrew Trites.

"There are lots of questions we have about the nutritional needs of mammals and why some populations are increasing or decreasing, and we can only answer that by observing animals in human care."

Aquarium could sue for costs

Staff from the aquarium also spoke at the meeting on Monday, including CEO John Nightingale, who said if the Park Board votes to ban whales and dolphins in tanks, the aquarium will take legal action to recover some of the costs of its recent $50 million expansion, which was approved by the board in 2006.

This protester says she supports whale rehabilitation, but says they should then be released. (Richard Zussman/CBC)

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